How to Use Smart Albums in Photos for Mac

This article explains how to use smart albums in Photos for Mac, which are like standard albums that automatically stay up to date. Instructions apply to the Photos app in macOS Big Sur (11.0), macOS Catalina (10.15), and macOS Mojave (10.14).

How to Create a Smart Album on Your Mac

It's easy to create a Smart album using Photos on your Mac.

1. Under File, select New Smart Album.

   The keyboard shortcut is Option+Command+N.

2. Alternatively, go to the side pane and next to My Albums, click the Plus sign and select Smart Album.

3. In the Smart Album Name field, type a name to help you find it later.

How to Set Smart Album Criteria

Once you create Smart Albums, control how photos end up in respective folders based on album conditions. Set criteria for the Smart Album using the three drop-down menus below the album name.

1. Choose the album category from the first drop-down menu. Photo is the default option. Other choices include Album, Date, Description, Filename, Keyword, Person, Photo, Text, and Title.

   You can also set this item to Aperture, Camera Model, Flash, Focal Length, ISO, Lens, and Shutter Speed.

2. Define the relationship between the category and conditions for your Smart album from the middle menu. If you chose Photo, the conditional options are is and is not.

   The relationship options change depending on the category. For example, if you chose Dates, the modifiers expand to date-related criteria such as is before and is after.

3. In the last drop-down menu, set the search terms or conditions that the Photo app should use to include or exclude images by album. The options in this field also change depending on the category and relationship.

   For example, if you set Photos as the category and choose from is or is not in the modifier column, your options for the search criteria include everything from photo types (selfies and screenshots) to characteristics such as hidden and marked as a favorite.

4. Click the Plus sign to add more search filters to albums.

   Adding more search options may pull fewer results or none at all.

5. When you have multiple search terms, a Match menu appears above the conditions you set. Choose to match any or all of the criteria.

   As you create search criteria, a count appears in the lower-left corner of the window showing how many results the folder will include.

6. Click the Minus sign to remove a search set.

7. Click OK to create the Smart Album.

8. Find your Smart Folder either on the Albums screen or nested under My Albums in the left pane.

Edit Smart Albums

You can edit Smart Albums once you've created them. In the sidebar, select the album. Under File, choose Edit Smart Album.

The familiar conditions dialog box appears. You can alter or delete the conditions you have set until you get the Smart Album working the way you want it. Click OK to save your changes.